The Austrian company Lithoz and the US research institute Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) have agreed on a cooperation to research the additive manufacturing possibilities of non-oxide high-temperature ceramics.
With the help of Lithoz’s 3D printing technology based on laser-induced slip casting, ceramic materials such as silicon carbide and silicon nitride are to be further developed for use at extremely high temperatures. According to ORNL researcher Corson Cramer, the combination of the company’s own ceramics expertise with Lithoz’s printing capabilities enables a breakthrough in the processing of these difficult-to-access materials.
The aim is to scale up the additively manufactured high-temperature components to an industrial production level. In a first step, a common oxide ceramic material will be used to explore the technical possibilities. Subsequently, the substances silicon nitride and silicon carbide, which are important for aerospace applications, will be printed, debinded and sintered.
Both Lithoz and Oak Ridge National Lab can draw on many years of expertise in the development and testing of high-temperature materials for the project. The cooperation is intended to help additive manufacturing processes achieve a breakthrough in this demanding area and enable completely new ceramic components for extreme environments.
Subscribe to our Newsletter
3DPresso is a weekly newsletter that links to the most exciting global stories from the 3D printing and additive manufacturing industry.
